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Those hoping to tune into No. 6 Oregon's clash with Oklahoma State were dealt a cruel blow in the lead-up to the contest's scheduled kickoff.
Thunder and lightning proved unruly in the lead-up to game's 12 p.m. ET start. As it turned out, Mother Nature preferred a slightly later opening act.
Here's the latest on the weather delay preventing the Ducks and Cowboys from taking the field.
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Oregon-Oklahoma State weather updates
Kickoff for Oregon vs. Oklahoma State was slated to take place at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. local time). As it turned out, that start time proved to be something of a moving target; the game was subjected to a lengthy delay after thunderstorms roved above Boone Pickens Stadium.
Kickoff in Stillwater will be delayed due to thunderstorms in the area.
Updates will be provided when available. #GoDucks
Lightning struck within eight miles of the stadium, bringing about the initial delay. Another bolt descended within the eight-mile radius around 12:10 p.m. ET, pushing the start time back an additional 30 minutes.
Another strike in the area. Kickoff will now be no earlier than 10:30 AM PT. #GoDucks https://t.co/9h3IyLvV7s
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) September 12, 2026When will Oregon-Oklahoma State start?
ESPN's Max Olson reported that game organizers are targeting a 1:15 p.m. ET (12:15 p.m. local time) kickoff at Boone Pickens Stadium. That's a tentative mark, admittedly — another lightning strike would lead to a lengthier delay.
The storms looked to have little impact on the field 30 minutes before the initial 12 p.m ET kickoff. The clouds did look ominous, however.
Football at Boone Pickens Stadium has finally made its return.#OKState takes on No. 6 Oregon as Eric Morris coaches his first home game for the Cowboys.
Game time is currently 11 a.m., but it could be pushed back because of thunderstorms in the area.
Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/J5ugxB57Qv
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College football lightning policy
Per NCAA rules, play can resume 30 minutes after the last visible lightning strike. Here's an official excerpt from the NCAA:
Electrical charges can linger in clouds after a thunderstorm has seemingly passed, so activity should remain suspended until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder is heard or the last strike of lightning is seen. This 30-minute clock restarts for each lightning flash seen or thunder heard.
If the venue is consulting with a professional meteorologist that is using real-time lightning cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground data, other criteria can be considered for determining earlier, safe resumption of play.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
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